bath fhewed in Times paft, and will as certainly now, as if it were done already, Strength with his Arm, fupernatural Deeds performed by his Power, for the Erection of the Kingdom of his Son and hath often, and will again, fcatter and defeat the proud Oppofers of it, by Means of those very Imaginations of their Hearts, in which they exult. The mighty amongst the Jews and Heathen shall be put down from their Seat, and bumble and meek Chriftians exalted in their Stead. They, that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, fhall be filled with spiritual good Things; and the Rich, that rely on the vain and falfe Treasures of their own Wisdom and Merit, he will convict of being poor and blind and naked, and so fend them empty away. He hath holpen his Servant Ifrael, all that by obeying him become his People, as he promised to our Forefathers, Abraham the Father of the Faithful, and his true Seed; thus remembering his covenanted Mercy, which fhall last for ever. This is the Triumph of the holy Virgin and every Part of it fhould be our own likewife. For God hath regarded our low Eftate, together with Her's, and magnified us, and made us

b Matt. v. 6.

R 2

Rev. iik. 17;

bleed.

bleed. And we should magnify and bless Him continually for it.

Inftead of this Hymn, our Prayer Book tells us, may be used, and in fome Places it frequently is, the 98th Pfalm: in which we exhort one another to fing unto the Lord a new Song; Words, denoting, in the Book of Revelation, Gospel Praises and we foretell that all Lands fhall join in it, with Trumpets and Shawms, another Inftrument of Wind-Mufic, which in our Bible is called a Cornet: whence we may conclude, if it needed Proof, that musical Inftruments are lawful in Christian Worship. This future Time of univerfal Thankfgiving is defcribed to be, when God fhall remember, that is, fhall give Evidence that he hath never forgot, his Mercy and Truth towards the Houfe of Ifrael, according to the Flesh; and not only they, but all the Ends of the World shall fee his Salvation. No Wonder, that even the irrational and inanimate Parts of Nature are called upon by a lofty Figure of Speech, to celebrate that glorious Day: the Sea to make a Noife, and all that therein is; the Floods to clap their Hands, and the Hills to be joyful together before the Lord: partly for the prefent Happiness of that Period, in which

poffibly the lowest of God's Works may hare; but chiefly for the Approach of the next and concluding Scene of Providence, when he fhall come finally, with Righteousness to judge the World, and the People with Equity.

After the fecond Leffon, is appointed another Hymn, used by the ancient Church, in their private Devotions at leaft; and by the present Greek and foreign Reformed, as well as ours and the Romish, in their public ones; and called from the Latin Beginning of it, Nunc dimittis. It expreffes the Gratitude of good old Simeon, a juft Man and devout, as we read in St. Luke, and waiting for the Confolation of Ifrael; to whom it was revealed, that he should not die, till he had feen the Lord's Chrift. Accordingly he came by the Spirit into the Temple: and when the Parents brought in the Child Jefus, he took him up in bis Arms, (image to yourselves the Scene, I beg you) and blessed God, and faid: Lord, now letteft thou thy Servant depart in Peace, that is, in Comfort; according to thy Word; for mine Eyes have feen thy Salvation, which thou haft prepared to fet before the Face of all People. And the following Sentence hath a strong Appearance of being defigned by the holy Ghoft

Luke ii. 25-32.

to intimate, (whether the Speaker of it perceived the Defign or not,) that, contrary to the expected and natural Order of Things, Chrift fhould first be a Light to lighten the Gentiles; then afterwards, the Glory of God's People Ifrael, To perceive the Fitness of Simeon's Thanksgiving for our Ufe, it needs only be remembered, and ever should in repeating it, that we also have feen the Lord's Salvation. For though we have not yet beheld our Saviour with our bodily Eyes; to that of Faith he is exhibited continually in the Gospel History and Sacraments; we may meet him in his Church, we may converse with him in our private Meditations. And this we should think Happiness enough for us here, whatever else we want or fuffer; and be always prepared, and always willing, to bless God, and depart in Peace.

For this Hymn we are allowed to use, and fometimes do, the 67th Pfalm; which is a prophetic Prayer, that, through the Light of God's Countenance, his gracious Illumination, the Way of his Providence and Man's Duty to him may be known on Earth, his faving Health, the Means by which he heals and faves Mens Souls, to all Nations: who are invited to rejoice and be glad, because be shall judge the Folk righte

ously; fhall govern and reward the People of the World, (for fo the Word, Folk, fignifies, and was not a low Expreffion formerly,) by the équitable and merciful Rules of Christianity. For then, on our doing this, the Earth fhall bring forth her Increase more plentifully; and God, even our own God, fhall give us his Bleffing, temporal and spiritual: for Godliness hath Promife of the Life that now is, and of that which is to come.

The former of the two Collects, peculiar to Evening Prayers, is taken from a Latin Form, at least 1100 Years old. It begs for the greatest of Bleffings here below, that joyful Peace of Mind, which our Saviour promised his Difciples: Peace I leave with you: my Peace I give unte you not as the World giveth, give I unto you 3. And fince it cannot be obtained, but by boly Defires, good and prudent Counfels for the Execution of them, and juft Actions, done in Confequence of both; so we petition Him, from whom all these proceed, to grant it us by Means of them; that our Hearts being fet by his Grace to keep his Commandments, and our Ways defended by his Providence from the Fear of our Enemies, we may find the Work of Righteousness,

f Tim. iv. 8.

* John xiv. 27.

R 4

Peace;